Claimed by a Stranger

Chapter Fourteen

I woke up to see Samuel staring at me.

“Morning,” I said smiling at him.

“Morning,” he smiled back at me. Awkward.

“So… You gonna stay like that or let me get up?”

He chuckled before moving.

“Thanks.” I grabbed some clothes and hopped in the shower, locking the door.

It was weird, waking up seeing him over me. I kind of liked it.

After my shower I put a dark purple top and jeans on. I secretly loved the colour purple. Then I put my hair up in a messy bun, since I didn’t feel like doing it. Makeup was too much upkeep and my skin was pretty clear.

“About time,” Samuel said as I walked out of my personal bathroom. He was laying on my bed, hand tucked under his head. He looked at home.

“To look this good, yeah, I need time,” I said laughing.

“You can just wake up and look already beautiful.”

“What about when I’m sleeping?” I asked, how does one respond to those comments?

“Then too,” he chuckled with me.

“Anyway thanks.” I looked away as I felt the heat rush to my cheeks. I never blush. I didn’t even know I could. How does one person affect another so much?

“Blushing. Aww, how cute,” he teased.

I stuck my tongue out at him. “Whatever,” I said trying to stop smiling.

“Cute.”

I groaned. Staying angry with him was difficult. Even if I get in fights with him, I never stay angry with him, no matter how much I want too. I guess I’ll play along, maybe push him a little.

“Thanks. I know I am,” I said. “Jason calls me that a lot.” Was that too cruel? I frowned, too bad I life didn’t have a rewind button.

“What?” he growled. “You’re mine.” Possessive much and no, I am not.

“I am not yours and I was pulling your leg.”

He crossed his arms and stood up to face me. “Not funny,” he said.

“Actually, it was. It was mean, but it was funny too.”

He stood and said, “Technically you are, but you’re not.”

“What?”

“I claimed you, so you are mine.”

“Not if I don’t accept you.”

“That’s the not part, but it doesn’t change the fact I claimed you. In a way you are mine,” he said. I don’t want to fight with him.

“Enough. I am not doing this “mine” thing with you. I am not yours until I accept you, so stop it with that.” I turned away from him and took a deep breath. “And even if I do accept you, I still don’t like it.”

“It’s hard,” he muttered. “I’m sorry.”

“I forgive you.” I turned to face him.

“I don’t understand how a mate can reject the other, especially when they’re claimed it makes it even harder.”

“I’m doing it. It’s not really that hard.”

“For you,” He pointed at me.

I lied a little. It was kind of hard. I did think about him all the time and I worried about him whenever he was gone.

“I know. It’s not unheard of,” I said.

“Yeah, yeah,” he grumbled.

I laughed, “You’re so funny sometimes Grouchy”

“Mr. Grouchy to you,” he corrected me.

We both started laughing.

“Hey, what’s so funny Savannah?” Kade asked as my door swung open. A low growl sounded from him.

I felt protective of Samuel. It’s just my brother and Samuel can take care of himself. I can see why Kade get’s so crazy.

“Why are you here?” Kade asked, pointing his finger at Samuel.

“Talking to my mate,” Samuel said. We just went over the possessive thing.

“She hasn’t accepted you.”

“I am still allowed to talk to her.”

“Kade. I am older than you. I can deal with this by myself,” I growled. “Kade, please leave.”

“If you hurt her I wil-“

“Kade,” I said.

“Going,” he growled as he shut my door.

“He needs to get over it. He is over protective about everything I do,” I said clenching my fists.

“He’s just worried about you.”

Was I hearing things? Did Samuel agree with Kade?

“What?” I asked, eyes wide.

“I feel protective of you when you’re with Jason or just when you’re by yourself.”

Is that jealousy I sense?

“Mmmhmm.” It was definitely jealousy, he just had to mention Jason.

“What?” He said. Faking innocence, but I see right through that.

“Nothing.” I shook my head.

“That was not nothing. But I will drop it for now,” He growled at “for now”. Does he think he was scary?

“He is,” I Lily screeched.

“Lily, stop,” Kade called after her.

Lily came barrelling through the door seconds later.

“Hi, you must be her mate. I’m Lily, Kade’s mate,” she said sticking her hand out for him. Samuel took her hand. I felt a pang of “jealousy?” No, I can’t be jealous. Why on earth do I have these weird feelings I don’t even like Samuel, that much.

“Nice to meet you. Yes I am. My name is Samuel.” He shook her hand.

“I finally get to meet you.”

“Finally?” He said raising a brow at me.

“Yes, finally, as in I told her you were the jerk that claimed me,” I budded in.

“Oh,” he said looking back at Lily.

“Kade,” I called.

“Yes, what’s up?” Kade asked as he stepped in my room.

“Did I ever tell you about Hannah and her mate?” might as well since we were on the topic.

“What? No. Who is it?” he asked eyes wide.

“Jack Hallings. They’re giving all of the signs.”

“Jack Hallings, as in Jason’s little brother?” He asked.

“That’s the one.”

He chuckled and said, “Seriously? She is probably the youngest mated yet.”

“Yeah,” I said. Most werewolves are known to mate around the age of sixteen.

“Do you think she knows?” he asked. Sometimes it can be hard to tell if you have a mate, especially at that age. It’s easier when you’re older and know more about mates and such and have had more crushes. Yet some werewolves stay completely clueless.

“Savannah,” dad’s voice rang throughout the house.

I don’t know why he yells so much. I mean, we are werewolves, we have amazing hearing. All he has to do it talk in his normal tone of voice and it would be as if he were in the same..

“Coming,” I said. “Bye guys,” I left my room and headed down the stairs. Poor Samuel, I wasn’t even considering him when I left. I’m not used to that responsibility.

“Yes dad?” I asked as I stepped inside his office. He was sitting behind his desk with my mother across from him.

“We have received word that the rogues are planning on attacking. Their attack could come at any time,” he said, rubbing his temples. The dark circles under his eyes were more pronounced, almost as if someone gave him two blackeyes.

“Do we know who they are yet?”

“The rumours are they are some of the wolves from the day Aaron disappeared.” He took a deep breath.

“What are the plans? Will we evacuate the humans and children?” I asked.

“I’m not sure. If they progress more, we might have to unless we find a spot in the woods to fight and hold them there.”

“What about the opening at the creek?”

“We would have to know more about their whereabouts and movements if we to trap them there. It would keep everyone in the town safe. Good thinking Savannah.” He glanced at my mum before returning his attention back to me. “Now you’re thinking like an Alpha.”

He has never ever said anything like that to me. He usually says I need to start thinking like one. I think this was the first time he has ever complimented me.

“Thanks,” I smile and he chuckled.

“Dad, is it possible to have a mate at a really young age, let’s say, thirteen?” I asked.

“I suppose it’s possible. I have never met anyone who has been mated that young,” he replied. I have to tell him about Hannah.

“I think Hannah has a mate.”

“What?” he looked at me. Yeah that’s how I felt and everyone else that I’ve told.

“I think it’s Jack Hallings. They are giving all of the signs. I could be wrong and they could be crushing on each other, but I think it’s more than that.”

“It could be a crush. You did the same thing at her age.”

“I did the same thing, what do you mean?”

“When you and Jason were in your teens, it seemed like you two were mates. You were with him all the time, you talked about him all the time. You showed all the signs,” he said.

“Oh. You guys thought he was my mate?” I laughed.

“Yes, but we have figured out that he’s obviously, not,” he grumbled.

I laughed. “Okay dad, if you get any more information about the rogues, I will be waiting and keeping safe.”

As I walked away from his office, I heard footsteps behind me and arms wrapped around me. He kissed my cheek, Samuel.

“Hey,” he whispered in my ear, sending shivers down my spine as his hot breath touched my skin.

“Hey,” I stuttered. He was affecting me way too much.

He chuckled. That was so cute. I frowned. Refraining from falling for him won’t be easy.

“Miss me?”

“I saw you two minutes ago.”

“Too long for me.”

“Why are you in the hall? What if my dad sees you? I know he’s trying but you’re not his favorite person.”

“I know, I just wanted to see you and Lily asks so many questions.”

I chuckled. “Yeah, that’s Lily.”

I rested my head back on his chest and he kissed my cheek again.

“Yeah, don’t even think about trying anything,” I said, knowing he would anyway.

“Like what?” he asked.

“You know exactly, what I’m talking about.”

“Like this?” He turned me to face him, his face inches away from mine. I swallowed, wow was he close. But I couldn’t move. What was he doing to me? He chuckled and leaned in a little closer, “Like that?”

I cleared my throat. “Yeah. Like. That.” Smooth, real smooth.

He smiled then laughed.

“Jerk.” I smacked his arm.

He smiled at me, showing me his straight white teeth. He had a nice smile. I really need to stop to focus.

He took my hand in his. I think if it were anyone else, I would have most likely hit them.

“Now what?” he asked.

“I have idea, but you probably won’t like it.”

“What is it? If you’re thinking about me talking with your father, you’re crazy. I am not doing that” How did he know?

“That wasn’t it,” I lied.

“You’re lying.”

How can he tell?

“Fine, but I think you should talk to him.”

“I know,” he grumbled. “Let’s go do something,” he said pulling along with him.

We ran out the back door and into the woods.

“What about the rogues?” I asked

“Were not running in the woods.” He took a sharp turn right and we headed closer to town.

“Samuel,” I whined.

“Your house is boring. Too many rules and prying eyes.”

It’s not like we can go out in public, he was a rogue.

“I know,” I said. “You can’t go into town. Remember, you not exactly welcome,” I said.

“I know. Let’s go swimming”

“What? I don’t have my bathing suit.”

“You don’t need one.”

“Samuel,” I said.

“I meant, go in your clothes”

I haven’t been swimming in a while. If my dad finds out what I’m doing, he will kill me. There goes my “thinking like an Alpha”. Being out here with Samuel, alone with a rogue. Definitely not my wisest decision.

“Here we are,” he said. I didn’t want to say no.

It seemed to get prettier and prettier every time I saw it. The creek was so beautiful, I loved being here. It was a large creek. The water flowed into a lake that was deeper in the woods; there was also a waterfall deeper in the woods, near the lake

“It’s so pretty,” I smiled.

“It is.” We walked closer to the water. I stuck my toe in.

“It’s cold,” I shivered.

He chuckled as we stood side by side. He glanced over at me before wrapping his arms around me and throwing me in the water.

The water hit me. a rush of cold covered my body. I began sinking. Soon I was at the bottom touching the mud. It wasn’t very deep where I was. Suddenly, a strong pair of arms pulled me up and out of the freezing water.

“Are you crazy? You scared me,” Samuel said hugging me tightly to his warm body.

“You pushed me,” I said, my teeth chattering. I started shivering, hoping he wouldn’t move me off his body. He was so warm.

“You were supposed to come up and when you didn’t.” He trailed off. “Don’t do that again.”

“I can’t believe you did that,” I wrapped my arms around him, “You. Pushed. Me,” I said.

“I’m sorry.”

“I forgive you,” I grumbled. “Now, are we going to swim?” We did come here to swim not drown me…or did we…is this going to be when I die?

“Are you crazy?”

“Maybe.”

“Do you really want to swim?” he asked.

“We didn’t break my dad’s rules for nothing, did we?”

He laughed. “Okay then, let’s swim.” He picked me off him. I felt cold again.

He looked at me before jumping in the water and began swimming away. I hopped back in the water and followed him. Am I really doing this? I hope no one finds us or I am so dead.

I looked up. Where did he go? I was right behind him.

“Looking for me?” he whispered in my ear, making me shiver as his hot breath touched my cold skin.

“Maybe,. I turned around. He was a lot closer than I expected.

He chuckled.

“So now what?” I asked, as I slowly leaned away from him.

“We should probably go.”

“Yeah, good idea,” I said as I swam around him and headed for the shore.

When I got to the shore, a strong pair of arms pulled me out. How did he get here so fast?

“We’d better hurry before anyone notices you’re gone,” he said.

I nodded, he took my hand and we started running home.